Whitman, MA Real Estate: A Local Guide

Whitman at a glance

A short history

Whitman was formed from parts of Abington and East Bridgewater and incorporated on March 4, 1875 as South Abington; voters renamed it Whitman in 1886. In the late 1930s Ruth Graves Wakefield created the chocolate chip cookie at the Toll House Inn on Bedford Street, and in 1997 it became the official cookie of the Commonwealth.

Getting around

Whitman station on the MBTA Kingston Line serves the town, and Routes 14, 18 and 27 cross it. Check mbta.com for current schedules and parking.

Records to check for a Whitman property

• The assessor’s record and current tax bill from the Town of Whitman; compare the assessed value, rate and any exemptions.
• Permits for additions, finished basements and decks from the building department.
• Permits for additions, finished basements and decks from the building department.
• The Whitman school district profile on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education site, if schools matter to your decision.

Massachusetts requirements for every sale

Homes built before 1978 need the state lead paint notification. Every sale needs a smoke and carbon monoxide compliance certificate from the local fire department. Homes not on public sewer generally need a Title 5 septic inspection.

This guide covers places, history and public records. Under fair housing law it does not describe neighborhoods by who lives in them. Confirm facts with the Town of Whitman and the agencies named before relying on them.

Sources: Whitman, Massachusetts; Yankee Magazine: Ruth Wakefield.